Tool Band Undertow

By 1995, Undertow had been certified double Platinum by the RIAA, a massive achievement for a debut that featured no romantic ballads and celebrated no hedonism. It laid the foundation for the entire "post-metal" genre. Bands like A Perfect Circle (obviously), Chevelle, Deftones, and even System of a Down have cited the Undertow era as a primary influence on their rhythm-section approach.

It is the sound of a band that hasn't yet learned to calm its demons—it only knows how to exorcise them loudly. For those who only know Tool from the intricate majesty of "Schism" or "The Pot," Undertow is the necessary primal scream. It is the album that proves that even geniuses have to start somewhere: buried alive in the mud, screaming to get out. tool band undertow

This is the track that broke the band. "Sober" is the Undertow single that everyone knows. Driven by Danny Carey’s signature polyrhythms (a descending bass drum pattern that feels like a heartbeat slowing down) and Jones’ hypnotic, chromatic guitar riff, the song deals with creativity fueled by substance abuse. Keenan’s anguish is palpable: "Why can't we not be sober?" The accompanying stop-motion video is legendary, depicting a bony, emaciated figure struggling against its own flesh. It won MTV’s "Breakthrough Video" award and cemented the aesthetic in the public consciousness. By 1995, Undertow had been certified double Platinum